Indian Antiquary Vol 46

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 256

242
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(OCTOBER, 1917
compel Sayaji to surrender Karaikal to them, a measure which he thought he could take, as the Nawab was the suzerain. The place was then forcibly taken and Sayaji was compelled to agree to his treaty and ratify it in a formal agreement (Feb. 1739). He at the same time was compelled to pay enormous booty to Chanda Sahib.
Bangaru Tirumala calls in the Marathas. It is not surprising that Sayaji was, like Bangaru Tirumala, embittered in his feeling against Chanda Sahib and ardently longed for his overthrow. Both the chiefs put their heads together and embraced the resolution of calling the Maratha Peshwa to their assistance. The Peshwa 98 of the time, the celebrated Baji Rao I., was not the man to let slip an opportunity which promised so much for Maratha expansion. He, therefore, eagerly seized the proposal of the ex-chief. With characteristic astuteness he suppressed domestic disunion for the sake of common ambition, and persuaded even his rival, Raghoji Bhonsle, to take part in an expedition into South India, ostensibly to take the cause of Baigaru, in reality to extend the sovereignty of the Maharashtra to the furthest corner of India. Raghoji Bhonsle and his colleague Fateh Singh were soon on the march to the south. The troops of Dost 'Ali vanished before them, and the Hindu powers, headed by Tanjore, hastened to renounce the Musalmano yoke and rally round the invaders. The coast being thus not only clear but inviting, Raghoji Bhonsle was soon at the foot of the Trichinopoly fortifications. The place was promptly invested, and after a few months blockade, was induced to capitulate. The acquisition of Trichinopoly was followed by the acquisition of Madura; for its Governor, Bade Sahib, the brother of Chanda Sahib, had already met, in an engagement with the Marathas, in the vicinity of Trichinopoly, with defeat and death.
The Maratha Occupation of Trichinopoly. The Maratha conquest and occupation of Trich inopoly and Madura had naturally the effect of reviving the fortunes of Bangaru Tirumala and his royal ward. One of the Chronicles100 describes how Fateh Singh summoned, after his victory, the regent and the crown prince to Trichinopoly; how in an interview with them, he dwelt on the great trouble he had
* Hist. of the Carna. Dynas. Duff does not mention this.
99 Duff points out that Safdar Ali, being defeated, bought off the Marathas, and also entered into a secret compact by which Raghoji was to crush Chanda Sahib in Trichinopoly, in return for the cession of that place. "No bait could be more allowing to the Marathas than Trichinopoly, and the troops only retired 250 miles towards Maharashtra to prepare for the promised conquest and lull suspicion of an attack" (pp. 2-3). Raghoji then returned to Poona to prevent the accession of Balaji Baji Rao to the Pealwaic dignity. Ho failed, and then returned to attack Trichinopoly, accompanied by Sripat Rao Pratinidhi and Fateh Singh Bhonsle. "In regard to the subsequent operations of the Marathas in the Carnatie, very little illustrative of what has been so ably recorded has fallen within my observation in the Maratha country. It appears, however, that the Tanjore State, though then agitated by factions, entered into a friendly correspondence with their countrymen, but whether to avert attack or to afford assis. tance is not mentioned." Trichinopoly surrendered, 26th Mar, 1741. It will be seen from this that Duff was ignorant of the fact that the Marathas attacked Trichinopoly not only to fulfil the promise of Safdar Ali, but ostensibly to restore the Madura dynasty-According to the Madura MSS., more. over, Tanjoro was distinctly for assistance, ..
100 Hial of the Cama, Dynas. Here it closely agrees with Duff. See II, p. 5. The Mys, Gazr, says that the Marathas, when they took Trichinopoly, "took Chanda captive to Satara, and disregarding the claims of Bangfru Tirumala," appointed Murâri Rao as the governor of the conquered kingdom This, it will be seen, is not supported by the chronicles.